Cuba to lay off 500,000 in 6 months, allow private jobs

[MNeagle]

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuba announced on Monday it would lay off "at least" half a million state workers over the next six months and simultaneously allow more jobs to be created in the private sector as the socialist economy struggles to get back on its feet.

The plan announced in state media confirms that President Raul Castro is following through on his pledge to shed some one million state jobs, a full fifth of the official workforce -- but in a shorter timeframe than initially anticipated.

"Our state cannot and should not continue maintaining companies, productive entities and services with inflated payrolls and losses that damage our economy and result counterproductive, create bad habits and distort workers' conduct," the CTC, Cuba's official labor union, said in newspapers.

Castro had announced layoffs in August, but said they would occur over the next five years.

At the time, he said the government "agreed to broaden the exercise of self employment and its use as another alternative for the employment of those excess workers."

The drastic and unprecedented economic changes have many Cubans worried that jobs they had long taken for granted under the Communist government will no longer be guaranteed.

Others are hopeful that they will have more freedom to set prices and earn more than the average state wage of $20 a month.

The state currently controls more than 90 percent of the economy, running everything from ice cream parlors and gas stations to factories and scientific laboratories. Traditionally independent professions, such as carpenters, plumbers and shoe repairmen, are also employed by the state.

State media on Monday did not give details about where private enterprise would be allowed to grow or which sectors would suffer layoffs, but did talk about which areas are still strategic.

"Within the state sector, it will only be possible to fill the jobs that are indispensable in areas where historically the labor force is insufficient, like agriculture, construction, teachers, police, industrial workers and others."

The announcement avoided the word "private," but said alternative forms of employment to be allowed included renting or borrowing state-owned facilities, cooperatives and self employment and that "hundreds of thousands of workers" would find jobs outside of the state sector over the next few years.

Castro has launched a few, small free-market reforms since taking over from his brother Fidel Castro in 2006.

In April, for example, barbershops were handed over to employees, who pay rent and tax but charge what they want. Licenses have also been granted to private taxis.

For a couple of years, fallow land in the countryside has been turned over to private farmers. The more they produce, the more they earn.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/13/cuba.economy/index.html?hpt=T1

[VX1]

"Come on down to Loco Ponce's Grande TP emporium, conveniently located in downtown Havana... our toilet paper prices are so low, you'd be crazy to wipe your ass with anything less..."

[Glass]

So Castro has done a deal with the IMF. Now we are looking for someother indicators. They may look benign because they will be capatilstic in nature. I've gone blank on the IMF playbook..... Agriculture will be one, health, education, central bank "borrowings" will be the key one and interest rates from 13% - 18%. They might have to hide that level of interest on what is basically a start up economy.

Also Cuba uses USD and not their own currency. They are small in total economy to US economy but I think they can be leveraged up very quickly creating demand for USD. Might create a little spike in USD strength all be it relatively small.

Seems like now He an Raul are getting on a bit in years they are ready to sell.

[Phoenix]

This is why Ponce didn't leave GS-US. They canceled the offer for a job in Havana.

[Phoenix]

So Castro has done a deal with the IMF. Now we are looking for someother indicators. They may look benign because they will be capatilstic in nature. I've gone blank on the IMF playbook..... Agriculture will be one, health, education, central bank "borrowings" will be the key one and interest rates from 13% - 18%. They might have to hide that level of interest on what is basically a start up economy.

Also Cuba uses USD and not their own currency. They are small in total economy to US economy but I think they can be leveraged up very quickly creating demand for USD. Might create a little spike in USD strength all be it relatively small.

Seems like now He an Raul are getting on a bit in years they are ready to sell.


The poverty of the Cuban people will remain. The profits made off the backs of the Cuban people and their resources will skyrocket.

Crapitalism and Communism are two sides of the same Jewish coin. Communism is closing up shop worldwide since it has outlived its purpose.

[Ponce]

The only real problem that I see is the removing of the rations books which have been in place for the last 45 years........the rich will always be able to eat because of the families overseas sending money (as I did with my dad) but the poor could count or still count on their ration books to obtain their daily meals.........one egg every three days, one lbs of rice a week, one lbs of meat a month.....one thing that I did like, the soldiers work some of the farms and every two weeks they would come down with a sixteen wheeler full of food that they would give away at different places.

I foresee bit troubles ahead once that Cuba is "free".........the US with borrow this and borrow that and I'll have you by the balls.....the the Cubans from the US opening new businesses in Cuba and paying crap in salary.

[7th trump]

So Castro has done a deal with the IMF. Now we are looking for someother indicators. They may look benign because they will be capatilstic in nature. I've gone blank on the IMF playbook..... Agriculture will be one, health, education, central bank "borrowings" will be the key one and interest rates from 13% - 18%. They might have to hide that level of interest on what is basically a start up economy.

Also Cuba uses USD and not their own currency. They are small in total economy to US economy but I think they can be leveraged up very quickly creating demand for USD. Might create a little spike in USD strength all be it relatively small.

Seems like now He an Raul are getting on a bit in years they are ready to sell.


The poverty of the Cuban people will remain. The profits made off the backs of the Cuban people and their resources will skyrocket.

Crapitalism and Communism are two sides of the same Jewish coin. Communism is closing up shop worldwide since it has outlived its purpose.

You say capitalism is one side of the same jewish coin as communism.
I have to disagree with you there. Capitalism got its beginings from bartering. Communism has nothing to do with bartering.
Do you remember what happened to the good Russian people during and after the boleshvic revolution?

Its to bad some people dont care to help themselves to a better life when everything to be successful has been at there disposal all this time. I personally dont care if lazy little johny decide to not get an education to better himself, its his choice. And theres no excuse you can come up with tell me any different.
Capitalism doesnt take advantage of anyone........just ask Ponce who worked his way up to what he has from where he came. Hard work for personal gain is not jewish nor communism in any sense of the word.
Capitalism is the stair case up to a better life while communism is a staircase down.
I mean really phoenix you are no different than any communist you push your agenda slowly and nobody realizes the bait and switch your pulling here.
For a guy who claims we should be privileged to be in the room you are in you sure dont impress me one bit.
Your a closet socialist hands down!

[dysgenic]

I'd like to see how a free market would operate without the following parasites:

1. Limited liability.
The power to reduce one's accountability and/or responsibility is the power to exploit.
No more corporations, no more insurance companies.
2. Honest money system.
No more usary and no more fractitional reserve.
3. No more coercion.
That means that opting out is always an option, regardless of the endeavor.
4. No more buying political favor.
I'd outlaw ALL campaign contributions of any kind.
5. No more monopolies.
Pretty tough without corporations, but still possible.

I'd bet that a free market system with the above criteria would thrive.

dys











So Castro has done a deal with the IMF. Now we are looking for someother indicators. They may look benign because they will be capatilstic in nature. I've gone blank on the IMF playbook..... Agriculture will be one, health, education, central bank "borrowings" will be the key one and interest rates from 13% - 18%. They might have to hide that level of interest on what is basically a start up economy.

Also Cuba uses USD and not their own currency. They are small in total economy to US economy but I think they can be leveraged up very quickly creating demand for USD. Might create a little spike in USD strength all be it relatively small.

Seems like now He an Raul are getting on a bit in years they are ready to sell.


The poverty of the Cuban people will remain. The profits made off the backs of the Cuban people and their resources will skyrocket.

Crapitalism and Communism are two sides of the same Jewish coin. Communism is closing up shop worldwide since it has outlived its purpose.

You say capitalism is one side of the same jewish coin as communism.
I have to disagree with you there. Capitalism got its beginings from bartering. Communism has nothing to do with bartering.
Do you remember what happened to the good Russian people during and after the boleshvic revolution?

Its to bad some people dont care to help themselves to a better life when everything to be successful has been at there disposal all this time. I personally dont care if lazy little johny decide to not get an education to better himself, its his choice. And theres no excuse you can come up with tell me any different.
Capitalism doesnt take advantage of anyone........just ask Ponce who worked his way up to what he has from where he came. Hard work for personal gain is not jewish nor communism in any sense of the word.
Capitalism is the stair case up to a better life while communism is a staircase down.
I mean really phoenix you are no different than any communist you push your agenda slowly and nobody realizes the bait and switch your pulling here.
For a guy who claims we should be privileged to be in the room you are in you sure dont impress me one bit.
Your a closet socialist hands down!

[FunnyMoney]

Don't expect to see that anytime soon, dysgenic. Everything is and continues to be corrupted. Even a strong dictatorship like Cuba or No Korea can be brought into the NWO. They will get their parts in the show. Spectators will watch the poverty and cruel monsters and will even ask Ceaser for more.

[Phoenix]

I'd like to see how a free market would operate without the following parasites:

1. Limited liability.
The power to reduce one's accountability and/or responsibility is the power to exploit.
No more corporations, no more insurance companies.
2. Honest money system.
No more usary and no more fractitional reserve.
3. No more coercion.
That means that opting out is always an option, regardless of the endeavor.
4. No more buying political favor.
I'd outlaw ALL campaign contributions of any kind.
5. No more monopolies.
Pretty tough without corporations, but still possible.

I'd bet that a free market system with the above criteria would thrive.

dys


Crapitalism =/= free market system

Free market system =/= Crapitalism

Yet Stockholm Syndrome victims readily identify with their masters of Crapitalism, claiming that the very system which has been used to enslave humanity will "free" us.

[Neuro]

Capitalism isn't the same as free market economy. Capitalism is best captured with the following quote:

Give me control of a country's money supply, and I care not who makes it's laws.

[wildcard]

Worked up until the media was completely bought and paid for. Along with the courts. No more watchdogs or muckrakers and no justice in a court of law.

[wildcard]

Meh! Forum is laggy!